THE claim “ang katawhan wala nakadawat sa ayuda” has been reverberating the airwaves since last year, hitting the crescendo as the May 2022 election drew close.
Now it is reverberating again in the halls of the City Council.
The 2021 ECQ cash assistance was coursed through the City Social Welfare and Development Office. City hall employees were mobilized to help distribute this cash assistance from the national government.
The city government received P767,824,000 and has reportedly distributed this to 292,109 beneficiaries representing 99.75% of the beneficiaries.
It has been over a year since the 2nd Covid 19 cash ayuda from the Special Amelioration Fund (SAP) was released.
All this time, what we hear are two tunes. One claims regularity and the other claiming irregularity. The previous City Council’s investigation on this issue did not find proof of irregularities.
But claims that “ang katawhan wala nakadawat sa ayuda” continue to reverberate in the air waves. During the election season, the opposition mouthpieces pound this on the air day in and day out.
Lately, opposition Councilor James Judith has been quoted lately saying: “Dili kita maka move on kung walay pagpanubag sa angayan manubag kon ‘accountability.’ Dili kita maka move on kung walay hustisya bahin ani nga isyu.”
The councilor is a lawyer. He knows fully well that accusations need pieces of evidence.
If indeed they have solid ground to seek accountability, they have to present sworn testimonies from persons who were unfairly and illegally excluded from the cash assistance.
Unless they do this, the rule on the presumption of regularity in the performance of duty applies, and their protracted advocacy is nothing but a fishing expedition.
